Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 ways Collin Sexton can improve

3. Controlling the tempo

One thing that separates a good NBA point guard from a great one is their ability to control the tempo. Dictating the pace in which the game is played not only brings comfort to everyone on your team but can add pressure for the opponent too.

Look at Stephen Curry for example. One of the most underrated aspects of his game is how he constantly throws the ball ahead to Draymond Green to initiate the half-court set.

Before the shot clock even reaches 20 seconds, Curry is already flying around a screen and catching a pass for a 3-pointer.

Another example is Chris Paul and James Harden. These two ball-dominant players aren’t afraid to walk the ball up the court and allow their team to spread out. This isolation-heavy offense helped Harden score a career-high 36.1 points per game.

These are contrasting styles of play, but both are effective for their specific team. The Dubs thrive off of hectic and chaotic movement that keeps the defense on its feet. Meanwhile, the Rockets love to lull their opponent to death with isolation attacks.

As for Collin Sexton and the Cleveland Cavaliers, they have yet to figure out which style best suits them. The team had no idea whether to push the tempo or slow it down and this hurt them offensively.

When Sexton did decide to ramp up the pace, he was often out of control and forcing up shots.

This can be chalked up to inexperience. Moving forward in his career, Sexton will learn which style of play is better for him. Furthermore, he will realize when to play fast and when to slow it down. These things take time to develop, but Sexton should actively look to work on it this year.